Why the iPhone isn't for me

To preface, I've used iPhones and I have an iPod Touch that I use constantly. I love the interface, and I dig the device. Initially, I had to resist the urge to just buy an iPhone and deal with these problems, but I didn't, opting to get a Nokia N95 instead. A year has passed, and I've realized that I definitely made the right choice -- the limitations of the original iPhone (and the iPhone 2.0) are simply too n

To preface, I've used iPhones and I have an iPod Touch that I use constantly. I love the interface, and I dig the device. Initially, I had to resist the urge to just buy an iPhone and deal with these problems, but I didn't, opting to get a Nokia N95 instead. A year has passed, and I've realized that I definitely made the right choice -- the limitations of the original iPhone (and the iPhone 2.0) are simply too numerous. Perhaps I've been spoiled by my N95 (and truth be told, I'll be getting an N96 in the next few months), but no matter how you slice it, I've decided that the iPhone just isn't my cup of tea. Here's why:

1) Lack of a full Bluetooth stack

This really bugs me. With my N95, I can use the phone as a Bluetooth modem for my MacBook Air when WiFi isn't available. I can sync it with my Macs (and Vista box) for contacts and calendaring. I can use Bluetooth headsets and headphones. I can easily (though not speedily) transfer files, images, videos, whatever. I can even use my collapsable Bluetooth keyboard. The iPhone's Bluetooth capabilities are capped at headsets. You can't even use Salling Clicker with the iPhone. No thanks -- that's too much convenience to give up.

2) No video camera

I haven't used my Canon video camera in ages. I prefer to grab a few minutes of video with my N95, or my Canon Elph when the mood strikes. My N95 is always with me, and takes surprisingly good videos. Lacking this feature would drive me nuts the first time I wanted to take a video and couldn't. What gives?

3) Lack of expansion

My N95 allows me to use micro-SD cards to add storage. The N96 will support them too, along with a 16GB internal storage capacity. This is a no-brainer.

4) Built-in battery

I can live without a removable battery in my MacBook Air, since I always carry the charger with me when I'm traveling the battery life is reasonable, and I don't use it while driving. The MacBook Air is also a laptop, not a phone, so it's not powered on 24/7/365 like my phone. I have a few batteries for my N95, and can swap them if I need to, no muss, no fuss.

5) AT&T

AT&T hasn't seen fit to provide service in my neck of the woods. I understand that they also don't have service in most (if not all) of Vermont. I can't get a local number, or transfer my number to them, even though I have plenty of GSM towers in my area and the range of my N95 is quite good.

6) iTunes

I don't really mind iTunes, but the fact that I can't plug my iPod Touch into my MacBook Air and add/remove/modify content is a constant annoyance -- it's paired with my MacBook Pro, and thus, cannot be managed from another system. Why? How hard would be it be to allow iPods and iPhones to be used with, say, up to three systems? That way, I wouldn't have to blow away everything on my iPod just to update my podcasts when I'm in a hotel room. To be frank, this limitation is simply ridiculous, and should have never been implemented.

7) No WiFi sync

Wouldn't it be nice to add/remove content from an iPhone or iPod Touch with WiFi? Heck, the Zune can do this. I fail to understand why Apple hasn't added this feature -- it's killer.

If these issues are magically addressed in the next rev of the iPhone, I'll be one of the first in line. Until then, I'm going to stick with my Nokia N95 (and eagerly awaiting my N96), enjoying my full Bluetooth support, video cameras (the N95 and N96 have two cameras, a 5MP and a 1.2MP), removable battery, expandable storage, and more. It might not be as well known as the iPhone, but it does so much more, it's impossible to pass up.